Fashion fanatics have been eagerly awaiting the release of Tom Ford’s chic Spring/Summer 2012 collection, which at last made its debut. The line has been infamously under wraps, except to a very limited group of elites who were fortunate enough to glimpse it at London Fashion Week in September.

The collection is unmistakably Ford with sexy yet refined looks for women that make exquisite use of edgy yet tasteful embellishments and materials like leather, feathers, fringe, and snake print, with some pieces taking on a spicy Spanish flair.

The inspiration behind the Spanish vibe? Ford chalks it up to the Western shows he attended and judged in Santa Fe with his partner and member of the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, Richard Buckley.

Another aspect of the collection that speaks volumes of Ford’s lasting impression on fashion is apparent in the new line – an adherence to classic elegance, rather than fading trends.

“I want to do classic clothes. I don’t want to do trendy collections that swing around from season to season,” explained the iconic designer. “I want to do things that will stay in a woman’s wardrobe a long time—quite ‘forever’ pieces. So I’m looking for consistency.”

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